Flora of New Zealand Series

P. prostrata (Stirton) Müll. Arg, Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 97 (1894).

Astrothelium prostratum Stirton, T.N.Z.I. 6: 240 (1874).

A. ochrocleistum Nyl., Lich. N.Z.: 135 (1888).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Near Wellington. J. Buchanan 91d. Received 14 May, 1973, GLAM!

Astrothelium ochrocleistum. Type: New Zealand. Sine loco, (prob. Wellington). C. Knight H-NYL - not seen.

Thallus in irregular bands or patches, 1-6 cm diam., olive brownish or greyish-yellowish to greyish-cinerascent, matt, smooth to slightly roughened, ± deeply cracked-areolate, corticolous. Perithecia immersed (1-5 in a stroma) in scattered verrucae, 1-2.5 mm diam., rounded to somewhat irregular, hemispherical, single or 2-3 confluent, involucrellum 11-40 µm thick, carbonaceous, exciple reddish-brown or pale yellowish-brown, 10-30 µm thick. Ostiole apical, 0.05-0.1 mm diam., slightly depressed, grey-white to red-brown. Ascospores uniseriate, ovoid-ellipsoid, submuriform, 5-6 transverse septa with 1-2 locules per tier, (30-)35-40 × 11-12 µm, wall 1-1.5 µm thick.

N: Auckland to Wellington. On smooth-barked trees and shrubs in forest or forest remnants.

Endemic (?Palaeotropical)